December 10, 2025December 10, 2025

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The Department of State Services (DSS) is closing in on a number of syndicates believed to be behind the blackmail of heads of key federal government departments and agencies, security sources have disclosed.

According to the sources, the secret police is being flooded with requests from the heads of those agencies to help unmask the blackmail syndicates.

One of the sources disclosed that, while some of the blackmailers are believed to be working alone, some, however, have turned blackmail into a sprawling business enterprise, sometimes working hand-in-glove with disgruntled staff members, contractors and suppliers.

The source disclosed that, even though several government agencies have been targeted by blackmail syndicates, special attention was been paid to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Universal Education Commission (UBEC), and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

The source noted that some of the blackmailers begin with registering groups and associations and thereafter use the platforms to write the heads of the targeted government agencies.

“They often offer the CEOs concocted awards and recognitions for humongous fees. The moment these CEOs fail to pay up for such awards, the blackmailers move in, and use different platforms to write dubious petitions to anti-graft agencies

“The moment they pen their phantom petitions, they begin a smear campaign on social and conventional media all in the bid to get attention and be called to the negotiation table. All these are to frustrate and distract such CEOs to the point of capitulation,” disclosed the source.

“Worried by the antics of these criminal elements, some heads of agencies who are victims of these blackmailers, have officially reported the matter to the secret police,” he further noted, adding, “they are currently being investigated and would soon be invited for questioning.”

He disclosed that, aside immediate financial gains, the blackmailers sometimes work for bigger ones that feast on the greed of candidates who desperately want to succeed the current heads of those agencies.

“Recall the recent case of a former senator who collected N400 million to help a candidate secure a key federal government appointment. It was just weeks ago that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, discontinued the fraud case against the former senator. That was after he refunded the N400 million,” reminded the source.

Another source disclosed that the DSS is believed to be beaming its searchlight on those he described as “internal collaborators” who work with the concerned agencies yet maintain links with those who seek to undermine the agencies.

“The DSS is working on different leads, particularly on the realization that some staff if the agencies are stealing and selling official documents to these blackmailers, which is a serious crime and against the Official Secrets Act.

“They steal official documents, manipulates figures, dates and other relevant data therein. This is proving to be a huge challenge to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, as they now have to work more to sift out petitions with substance from the sham ones,” he added.

“Aside maintaining internal security, and providing VIP protection, the DSS is saddled with the responsibility of preventing subversion, sabotage, and economic crimes against national security, working behind the scenes to maintain stability,” he declared.

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Sam Amadi, former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has cautioned political actors against underestimating President Bola Tinubu, saying he is prepared to engage opponents “dirty” if they come at him with “dirty dress”.

In a post shared on Wednesday via X, Amadi said those urging young politicians to confront the president should be mindful of the consequences.

He noted that while Tinubu “is not clean”, he is relentless and will “fight dirty once you are dirty and fighting him”.

Amadi added that Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, is the only one capable of surviving the “coming hurricane” because “his clothes are not dirty”.

His remarks come amid reports that former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has spent a second night in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, custody as he faces investigations into alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and abuse of office.

He wrote: “Those who are promising the youths that they can fight Tinubu with dirty dress should take note. Tinubu is not clean; but he will fight you dirty once you are dirty and fighting him.

“Only @PeterObi will survive the coming hurricane because his clothes are not dirty.”

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A total of one hundred and fifty delegates is set to elect the Osun State governorship candidate of the Accord Party on Wednesday.

This comes barely 16 hours after Governor Ademola Adeleke officially joined the party at the Banquet Hall of the Osun State Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo.

The Nation observed heavy security presence at the venue, Oasis Event Centre, Agunbelewo, where the exercise will take place.

Operatives of the Department of State Services, the Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were stationed at the entrance, subjecting all entrants to thorough checks to maintain law and order.

Inside the hall, a section was designated for the 150 delegates who will vote in the primary, while other areas were reserved for observers and the media.

In the observers’ section, The Nation noted that many of those seated at a corner were members of the Peoples Democratic Party and aides of Governor Adeleke.

Confirming the process, the Osun State Chairman of the party, Pastor Victor Akande, told The Nation that 150 delegates would elect the governorship candidate of the party.

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The former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after failing to meet the bail terms earlier granted to him.

His detention has drawn fresh attention to long-standing concerns surrounding the handling of recovered funds linked to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

According to officials familiar with the development, Malami remained with EFCC operatives late into Tuesday night as he struggled to satisfy the conditions attached to his temporary release.

The commission has insisted he must first clear a series of allegations before he can be allowed to leave their facility.

Investigators are probing several issues, including the management of accounts suspected to be linked to money laundering and the movement of funds traced to international recovery operations.

One senior officer revealed that the commission is also looking into allegations connected to terrorism financing and the whereabouts of looted Nigerian funds returned from Switzerland and the Island of Jersey.

The source stated that the former minister would remain with them until he meets his bail obligations and addresses all queries arising from the probe.

According to the official, the EFCC has lined up numerous allegations for him to answer.

The officer noted that Malami is required to appear at the agency’s office every day throughout December as part of the ongoing investigation.

At the moment, investigators are examining what they described as 18 separate infractions. These include suspected money laundering, abuse of office, and transactions that the agency believes must be further clarified.

The official added that the full financial details remain uncertain, as more information continues to emerge during the review of documents and accounts.

Malami, however, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He described the allegations as “fabricated,” insisting that his record in public office does not align with the claims being circulated.

According to him, ”For the avoidance of doubt, my public record in office stands in direct contradiction to any insinuation of complicity in terrorism financing.”

He further maintained that during his time as Attorney-General, he worked with key institutions to strengthen the country’s fight against money laundering and terror-financing networks.

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Weeks after the kidnapping of the schoolchildren and their teachers from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, one of the rescued girls has shared a chilling part of their experience in captivity.

The abduction, which took place on November 21, involved 303 students and 12 teachers.

The federal government secured the release of 100 students, while 203 students and 12 teachers remain in captivity.

The incident left many Nigerians shocked and worried about the safety of schoolchildren in the country.

Student Speaks About Ordeal

One of the rescued students, a girl, opened up in an interview shared by CNN.

She said the gunmen gave them tarpaulins to sleep on and ordered them to remain quiet.

“They gave us a tarpaulin, that we should put it down, we should lie down and sleep, that we should not make noise for them,” the student recounted.

Netizens React to the Release

The release of 100 students has sparked reactions online. Many expressed relief, while others raised concerns about those still being held in captivity.

See below;

@cnn

One hundred schoolchildren were rescued after being abducted last month from St. Mary’s Catholic School in central Nigeria. Many of them still remain hostage, according to a Reuters report. #CNN #news

♬ original sound – CNN – CNN

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Chief executive officers of commercial banks have been directed to appear in person before an investigative panel of the House of Representatives over alleged illegal and unexplained deductions from customers’ bank accounts.

The summons was issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the deduction of taxes from civil and public servants’ earnings and bank charges on customers’ accounts.

Commercial banks deduct various charges from customers’ accounts, including SMS charges, Maintenance charges, and transfer charges, among others.

Banks accused of perpetrating illegality 

Speaking during the panel session, Committee Chairman, Rep. Kelechi Nwogu, accused commercial banks of engaging in systematic and unlawful deductions, including charges that are neither transparent nor remitted to the appropriate authorities.

“Commercial banks are perpetrating illegality by deducting inexplicable charges from civil servants, public servants and other customers’ bank accounts without remittances,” Nwogu said.

• He noted that banks routinely deduct a range of charges such as SMS alerts, account maintenance fees, and transfer charges, raising concerns over the legality, transparency, and utilisation of such funds.
• Reiterating the committee’s mandate, Nwogu said the investigation would ensure that all deductions imposed by banks are properly authorised, correctly computed, and appropriately utilised.

“Our mandate is clear. All deductions or charges must be deducted rightly, fined rightly, and used rightly,” he said.

He also disclosed that the committee had extended invitations to the Ministry of Finance and would work closely with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and commercial banks operating in Nigeria to ensure a thorough probe.

CEOs must appear; no proxies allowed 

The committee chairman firmly rejected any attempt by banks to send representatives instead of their chief executives, stressing that the CEOs themselves must appear unfailingly before the panel.

“You cannot appear here without an identity. We are not here on our own. We are here on the mandate of the people that elected us into parliament,” Nwogu said.

He added: “We have resolved to meet next week Wednesday. You must submit all requested documents on or before Monday. We will go through all the documents and we will put you on oath.” 

Four-day ultimatum to submit documents 

The committee issued a four-day ultimatum to all banks involved to submit the relevant documents required for the investigation.

According to Nwogu, any bank that fails to comply with the directive by Monday will face sanctions.

The House panel, he said, is determined to leave no stone unturned in uncovering the reasons behind what it described as spurious and unjustified deductions from customers’ accounts.

What you should know  

According to a recent Business Expectations Survey Report released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), excessive bank charges, multiple taxes, and inadequate infrastructure ranked as the top constraints in September 2025.

• The survey revealed that respondents identified High Bank Charges (70.8), High/Multiple Taxes (70.8), and Poor Infrastructure (70.7) as the three most pressing challenges hindering business operations across the country.
• Despite these challenges, the report showed a modest level of optimism among businesses.

Follow us for Breaking News and Market Intelligence.




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Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC), a non-political organisation, has stated that the crisis arising from the withheld local government funds in Osun State is a threat to the political, socio-economic development, and well-being of the Osun people.

Speaking at a press conference, the coalition spokesperson, Raufu Sodiq, stressed that the continued withholding of Osun State local government funds has affected all sectors of the state, calling for the issue to be addressed without delay.

The coalition, which remarked that with the current situation, it has become increasingly difficult to sustain calls on the federal government to release the withheld funds, noted that funds are used for the betterment of the Osun people.

The spokesperson equally demanded full support for the affected sectors, including education, health, and security, to help them recover from the damage the withheld funds have caused.

Others, he pointed out, were to protect the rights of the masses to basic amenities and services, address the rising unemployment caused by the withheld funds, guarantee the security of lives and property in Osun State, as well as ensure the continuity of essential services, and other social services done in other states but deliberately not implemented in Osun State.

The demands also included holding accountable those responsible for the withholding of funds, adding that the state government should explore alternative funding sources, such as grants and loans, to support agricultural, sports development, and other critical sectors in the state.

The coalition further gave the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) a three-day ultimatum to ensure the release of the funds.

The CCNC, however, warned that if the federal government fails to act and get this issue completely resolved within three days, the coalition will be forced to adopt more drastic measures, including confrontation, to seek justice, which will be done nationwide.

The group, therefore, urged the federal government to prioritise the welfare of the masses, release the withheld funds to prevent further suffering, and not politicise the issue further.

According to the coalition, “CCNC will always stand for justice and protect the rights of our people without hesitation. We want to restate that we will never be allowed to be tools in the hands of any government. All we want is good governance, effective security, and employment that will aid good living conditions.

“We want to say that with all sense of responsibility that if the federal government administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not do the needful, we will have no other choice than to use the last resort of activism, which is confrontation, to seek justice.

“We don’t want the Osun State local government fund to be politicised any further. And we want to remind the federal government that Osun is not the only state that has not fully implemented local government autonomy, and the people should not be made to suffer unnecessarily.”

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Rwanda accused the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi Wednesday of deliberately violating a ceasefire in eastern DRC, days after the signing of a peace agreement in Washington.

Rwandan-backed M23 fighters entered the strategic city of Uvira, near the Burundian border late Tuesday, as it became the latest major settlement to fall in the mineral-rich region that has been plagued by decades of conflict.

Thousands of civilians and scores of Congolese soldiers have fled across the border into Burundi, which has sent troops to help the DRC fight the Kigali-backed M23 and its Rwandan allies, according to military sources.

In a statement on X, the Rwandan foreign ministry said recent violations “cannot be placed on Rwanda” and said “the Congolese Army (FARDC) and the Burundian Army (FDNB)… had been systematically bombing civilian villages close to the Rwandan border, using fighter jets and attack drones, and which the AFC/M23 has said it has been forced to counter”.

“These deliberate violations of recently negotiated agreements constitute serious obstacles to peace,” the statement said.

The renewed violence undermines an agreement aimed at ending the conflict brokered by US President Donald Trump and which Kinshasa and Kigali signed less than a week ago, on December 4.

The United States and several European countries urged the M23 and Kigali in a joint statement on Tuesday to immediately cease their ongoing offensive.

AFP

The post Rwanda accuses DR Congo, Burundi of ‘violations’ days after peace deal appeared first on Vanguard News.

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The Federal High Court of Nigeria (FHC) has condemned the use of the photograph of one of its judges, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, in media reports about the gruesome murder of retired Delta State High Court judge, Justice Ifeoma Okogwu.

The Court affirmed that, contrary to the wrong impression created by the misused image, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu is alive and currently discharging her judicial duties in her division.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the Federal High Court described the continued use of Justice Ojukwu’s photo in place of the murdered Justice Okogwu as reckless, misleading, malicious, and unprofessional, noting that it has caused Justice Ojukwu emotional distress.

The statement, signed by the Court’s Director of Information, Dr. Catherine Oby Christopher, demanded the immediate removal of all posts, articles, broadcasts, and digital content containing the wrongful use of Justice Ojukwu’s photograph.

The statement read: “The Federal High Court of Nigeria hereby issues this formal refutal and strongly condemns the recent dissemination of false, misleading, and malicious media publications that wrongfully used the photograph of Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in connection with reports on the tragic murder of Honourable Justice Ifeoma Okogwu, a retired Judge of the Delta State High Court.

“For absolute clarity, the Federal High Court affirms that Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu is alive, healthy, and currently serving with distinction as a Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

“His Lordship has no direct, indirect, or remote connection whatsoever to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the death of Justice Okogwu.

“The publication and circulation of Justice Ojukwu’s image in this context are not only factually inaccurate but also defamatory, professionally reckless, and legally actionable.

“This misrepresentation has caused significant emotional distress to His Lordship, her family, colleagues, and the broader judicial community. It also constitutes a breach of fundamental journalistic and ethical standards.

“Pursuant to applicable laws, including the laws of defamation under Nigerian jurisprudence, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, and relevant regulatory standards governing media practice, the Federal High Court demands the following with immediate effect:

‘Immediate removal of all posts, articles, broadcasts, and digital content containing the wrongful use of Justice Ojukwu’s photograph.

‘A clear, unambiguous public retraction, expressly acknowledging the misidentification and correcting the misinformation.

‘A written and publicly published apology directed to Honourable Justice Ojukwu, disseminated across all platforms on which the erroneous information was originally shared.’”

The Federal High Court advised all media organisations, journalists, bloggers, and online publishers to exercise strict due diligence in verifying facts and images before publication, particularly when reporting on judicial officers whose reputational integrity is essential to the administration of justice.

It warned that failure to comply with the notice, or any continued publication, sharing, or circulation of the false image after the formal refutal, would be construed as deliberate malice and bad faith.

“The Federal High Court will not hesitate to initiate appropriate civil and criminal proceedings against any individual, organisation, or platform found culpable.

“The Court remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting the dignity, safety, and integrity of all judicial officers serving the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” it said.

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The Federal Government says it has opened an investigation into the detention of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft in Burkina Faso after the plane was forced to land in Bobo-Dioulasso on Monday.

Tribune Online reports that the aircraft, which had 11 military personnel on board, was compelled to land after allegedly entering Burkina Faso’s airspace without authorisation.

The incident was reported by the Agence d’Information du Burkina, the state news agency, which published a statement issued by the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) outlining details of the interception.

Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the Nigerian government is closely monitoring the situation.

“We are monitoring the situation and will issue a statement when we receive adequate information,” Ebienfa told reporters.

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